The Canadian military believes that patriotism, along with distinct uniforms and other benefits, could motivate members of the public to volunteer for a new 300,000-strong reserve force designed for national emergencies.
Incentives to Serve
According to government records obtained by the Ottawa Citizen, defence planners are recommending a variety of methods to spur Canadians to join the new force. The planners noted in their May 2025 report that “incentives to serve will be multi-faceted and must consider a spectrum of motivational factors including Patriotism and Service to the Nation, while also ensuring that tangible benefits of service adequately out-weigh reticence to participation.”
They recommended that Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan “develop a national narrative that inspires belief and trust. Messaging should emphasize not only national service and resilience, but also the personal fulfilment that comes to contributing something greater than oneself.”
Tangible Benefits
Other elements to entice volunteers could include tax benefits or recognition from employers that military training could be seen as professional development. Another incentive would be to “develop (a) sense of belonging by providing distinct uniform pieces, ID cards, licence plates, obtainable after having met training or timing requirements,” the Department of National Defence planners said.
Minimal Training
It is envisioned that those in the mobilization reserve force would receive minimal training involving “basic skills (e.g. shoot, move and communicate; drive a truck; fly a drone; etc.).” The records suggested training recruits for one week a year. This differs from the primary reserves, who are volunteers serving part-time in established military units and train weekly and sometimes on weekends.
Background and Reactions
The mobilization scheme was first reported by the Ottawa Citizen in October 2025. Carignan has been promoting the plan that would create a pool of volunteers who were minimally trained. She told CBC that she was finalizing recommendations for the new force and expected to present various options to the Liberal government sometime in June.
The Ottawa Citizen requested comment from the Canadian Forces about the mobilization plan on May 6, but no comment has yet been provided. The documents were obtained by independent researcher Jérôme Roy through an access-to-information request, with additional records obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.
The defence planners noted that the idea of mobilization is “foreign to the national psyche. Senses of patriotism and national pride are perceived differently across the country and across generations.”
